USA TODAY readers react to DOT’s new civility campaign
The Department of Transportation’s campaign, “The Golden Age of Flying Starts with You,” received a huge response from USA TODAY readers.
- Most airlines recommend arriving 2 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours early for international flights.
- Travel experts suggest adding an hour to your normal arrival time during peak holiday seasons.
- Factors such as the availability of TSA PreCheck and baggage screening can affect how early you need to arrive at the airport.
Everyone seems to have their own philosophy (and social media “airport theory”) when it comes to airport arrival times, and honestly, there’s no definitive answer. Personally, I usually arrive 1.5 to 2 hours before my flight, and I rarely check in my luggage. Additionally, since we use TSA PreCheck, the process can go smoothly.
Still, when I fly during peak travel times, I like to give myself a little extra time. Airports are even more crowded during the holidays and there are long lines for basically everything. I’d rather get through security a little early and walk around the airport terminal than sweat and layer up and worry about whether I’ll make it to the gate on time.
Most airlines recommend arriving 2 hours before your domestic flight departure time or 3 hours before your international flight departure time.
The Transportation Security Administration recommends following your airline’s guidance because “turnaround times may vary by airport and date of travel.” The agency also provides a mobile app that allows you to check the approximate waiting time for security screening.
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When the airport is busy, you also don’t want to be a “gate camper” who stretches out with all your luggage hours before your flight, stealing valuable seats from other holiday travelers.
Travel journalist Christopher Elliott recommends adding an hour to your normal airport arrival time on vacation, but says anything more than that is excessive and unnecessary.
So what is the best time to arrive? It depends on your risk tolerance, your comfort with navigating the airport, and how crowded the facilities you plan to use are. However, if in doubt, follow your airline’s guidance and allow some leeway in your schedule. The holidays are not the time to test the 15-minute airport arrival theory.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
